95%
Students of Color
Making the Impossible Possible
Dougherty Family College
Dougherty Family College is turning the traditional model of higher education on its head. This groundbreaking college was created to remove financial barriers that could prevent students from achieving their goals of attaining four-year degrees. While maintaining the same standard of excellence as St. Thomas' four-year program, Dougherty Family College is making a college education affordable and accessible for driven, promising students who demonstrate high financial need.
Minnesota ranks fourth in the U.S. for jobs requiring a four-year degree, making a college education more valuable than ever for our workforce. Dougherty Family College equips students with the financial, academic, and social supports they need to earn their associate's degree in liberal arts. Beyond the classroom, our Professional Internship Program affords students the opportunity to develop professional skills and real-world experience with exposure to different industries and careers. It's the first step on their way to reaching their potential and ultimately earning a four-year degree at the University of St. Thomas or another college of their choice.
Contact
Emily Wingfield
Director of Development, DFC
55
High Schools Represented
15
Languages Spoken
I wanted to attend DFC because paying for college was always a concern to me. I’ve always thought about the idea of going to college, and DFC made that happen for me. I developed discipline, time management skills and perseverance.
Jasmin '20 AA
Meet the Dean
"Closing the gap in higher education and the workforce is a bold mission that we embrace at Dougherty Family College. Our graduation rate is twice as high as the state and national community college graduation rates. In addition, our scholars gain valuable professional skills and experience by working at companies and organizations that make a meaningful impact in our society. Our DFC students are steadfast in their commitment to fulfilling their college dreams and becoming leaders who will transform the world. We are grateful for our friends and partners who continue to support our scholars on their educational and career journey. Your dedicated partnership and consistent engagement with our scholars matter and will have an impact in their lives and in our communities for generations to come."
- Buffy Smith, Ph.D., Dean, and Eugene and Mary Frey Endowed Chair, Dougherty Family College
When I was first introduced to the Dougherty Family College program and met the young adults who were part of it, I actually saw myself in their faces. I saw the same hope that I had at their age; hope that someone would believe in me and my potential. Supporting DFC has given us an opportunity to cultivate future leaders and build an incredible pipeline to important new talent.
Greg Cunningham, Chief Diversity Officer, US Bank
Providing Hope
For many students, including Leslie Nicolas '19 AA, a college education was a dream that seemed too expensive to attain. "Everything we were worrying about in my family, it was (covered at DFC), and it gave me hope," says Nicolas. See how a Dougherty Family College education is changing lives every single day.
The Cohort Model
A key element of a Dougherty Family College experience gaining national attention is its cohort model. About 25 students take every class together, which creates a support system and community throughout the two-year program. They are motivated and encouraged by their peers to be the best that they can be. See how in the midst of crisis, Dougherty Family College students came together to make the most of their education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dougherty Family
“A college degree is one of the best ways to beat poverty,” says Mike Dougherty. “My wife, daughters and I want to give motivated, hard-working students the opportunity to succeed in college so they can use their talents and support themselves in the future. One day, I believe these students will be giving back to our community. But for now, this is a way for our family to give back to the community that has been so good to us.”
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I met a lot of people at DFC from different backgrounds who were as goal-driven as me, which really pushed me to be better.
Alvin '20 AA
Areas of Need
More Than Tuition
As always, our top priority is making DFC affordable and accessible for the students who need it most. Academic scholarships for current and prospective students are the most effective way to bring down costs and provide students a pathway to a four-year degree.
Gap Costs
The cost of education is more than tuition. At DFC, we cover those outside costs by providing textbooks, laptops, Metro Transit passes, and meal plans for our students who travel from all over the metro area to come to class. Gap scholarships help cover the costs of these materials and ensure that DFC students can focus entirely on their classes.
Beyond the Classroom
Graduating from Dougherty Family College isn't the end of our students' journeys, it's just the beginning. Our goal is to help our students complete their four-year degree after graduation whether that is at St. Thomas or another school. Persistence scholarships reward our talented students for all the hard work they've already done and motivate them to continue on their path toward a bachelor's degree.